Help Heal Veterans

What Help Heal Veterans does

Help Heal Veterans (Heal Vets) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 1971 during the Vietnam War that manufactures and distributes free therapeutic craft kits to U.S. veterans and active-duty military personnel. Headquartered at 36585 Penfield Lane in Winchester, California, the organization serves veterans recovering from visible and invisible wounds of war — PTSD, traumatic brain injury, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and physical injuries — through distribution channels reaching 180 VA Medical Centers, 25 VA Outpatient Clinics, 134 State Veterans Homes, 153 continental U.S. military installations, 31 overseas installations, and one military ship, plus homebound veterans through direct delivery. Since founding, the organization has distributed over 30 million kits and currently ships nearly 500,000 kits per year from its Winchester workshop, providing approximately 1 million hours of therapy annually.

The core offering is the Therapeutic Craft Kits portfolio — wood kits, leather kits, jewelry kits, paint-by-numbers, model building, bead kits, latch hook kits, and poster art — with kits matched to individual veteran clinical needs based on consultations with clinicians. Distribution occurs through four channels: the Facility Kit Program (direct shipment to VA and military facilities), the Patient Home Rehabilitation Program (18-20+ kits delivered to homebound veterans' homes), Community-Based Arts and Crafts Centers (CBCs) in Temple TX, Maywood IL, San Antonio TX, and a forthcoming San Diego Liberty Station location where veterans work on kits in a social setting, and inclusion in care packages via the Operation Shoebox partnership. The Craft Care Specialists Program, established in 1994, places trained specialists (often teachers, artists, or veterans) in hospital settings and CBCs. Approximately 75% of kits are made from recycled materials, with the organization having reached one million pounds of recycled material usage.

The organization operates on a donor-supported model with no government funding. Revenue derives from individual contributions, planned giving and estate gifts (recognized on a Wall of Honor at the California headquarters), corporate matching gifts (over 70 companies including Boeing, Microsoft, GE, Bank of America, Wells Fargo), and substantial in-kind material donations from corporate partners including Southwest Airlines (300,000 pounds of airplane seat covers since 2018), La-Z-Boy (400,000+ pounds of leather and cloth), the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (leather hides through a 20+ year partnership), Joann Fabrics, and others. The model exhibits a reported ~41x leverage ratio — every $20 in cash donation yields approximately $820 worth of kits to veterans. Leadership includes CEO Joseph S. McClain (RET), a U.S. Navy veteran appointed September 3, 2015, and a Board of Directors chaired by Dr. Keith Stuessi, with members drawn heavily from U.S. military, federal healthcare IT, and veterans affairs backgrounds.

Name

Help Heal Veterans

Legal name

Help Heal Veterans, Inc.

Website

https://healvets.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Help Heal Veterans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1971, that manufactures and distributes free therapeutic craft kits to U.S. veterans and active-duty military through VA medical centers, military hospitals, state veterans homes, community-based arts centers, and direct home delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Therapeutic Services

NAICS

Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316)

SIC

Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Adult Day Programs (HSABANAH)

Keywords

• Therapeutic craft kits
• Veteran rehabilitation services
• Arts and crafts therapy
• Nonprofit veteran support
• PTSD therapeutic aids

Headquarters

HQ city

Winchester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions: Help Heal Veterans is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization that is strictly donor-supported and does not receive government funding. Individuals and organizations make monetary donations to support the creation and shipment of therapeutic craft kits.
2. Corporate Product Donations: Corporations donate products and materials (leather, fabric, wood, etc.) that are repurposed into therapeutic craft kits. Major donors include Southwest Airlines (airplane seat covers), La-Z-Boy (leather and cloth), Elks (leather hides), and others.
3. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Legacy giving program where donors include Help Heal Veterans in their estate planning through wills, with Wall of Honor recognition at California headquarters.
4. Corporate Matching Gifts: Employee matching gift program where companies match employee donations, with over 70 companies participating including Boeing, Microsoft, GE, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Help Heal Veterans designs, manufactures, and distributes free therapeutic arts and crafts kits to U.S. veterans and active-duty military recovering from visible and invisible wounds of war. The kits span woodworking, leather, jewelry, paint-by-numbers, model building, beadwork, and latch hook projects, and are delivered through four channels: direct shipment to VA Medical Centers, military hospitals, and State Veterans Homes; Community-Based Arts and Crafts Centers with on-site Craft Care Specialists; the Patient Home Rehabilitation Program for homebound veterans; and inclusion in Operation Shoebox care packages overseas.

Product overview

Help Heal Veterans operates a single unified product line centered on therapeutic craft kits for veterans, distributed through four complementary delivery channels: (1) direct shipment of kits to veteran facilities (VA medical centers, military hospitals, State Veteran Homes), (2) the Patient Home Rehabilitation Program delivering kits to homebound veterans, (3) Community-Based Arts & Crafts Centers (CBCs) providing physical gathering spaces with staff support, and (4) the Craft Care Specialists Program placing trained staff at CBCs and medical facilities to facilitate therapeutic craft activities. The craft kit portfolio includes wood kits, leather kits, jewelry/painting/model-building kits, and other therapeutic crafts, all provided free of charge to veterans and active-duty military.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heal Vets Therapeutic Craft Kits Free therapeutic arts and crafts kits (wood kits, leather kits, jewelry kits, paint-by-numbers, model building, bead kits, latch hook kits, poster art) provided to veterans and active-duty military to support rehabilitation of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, depression, anxiety, and physical injuries. Kits are made in part from recycled materials donated by corporate partners.
• Community-Based Arts and Crafts Centers (CBCs) Physical gathering locations where veterans work on therapeutic craft kits with assistance from Craft Care Specialists, providing peer connection, social atmosphere, and hands-on creative engagement for healing.
• Craft Care Specialists Program Staff program of trained specialists (often teachers, artists, or veterans themselves) providing hands-on assistance with craft kits at Community-Based Arts and Crafts Centers and at medical facilities, facilitating social interaction and therapeutic craft activities.
• Patient Home Rehabilitation Program Home delivery service providing 18-20+ craft kits (sufficient for approximately a year) to homebound veterans experiencing significant stress, PTSD, or other challenges, shipped directly to their doors at no cost.
• Facility Kit Program Bulk distribution of free therapeutic craft kits shipped to facilities serving veterans (VA medical centers, military hospitals, State Veteran Homes, community health centers), with kits matched to specific recipient needs and abilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of medical professionals surveyed say therapy kits have made a difference
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southwest AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Since 2018, Southwest Airlines has donated 300,000 pounds of airplane seat covers to Help Heal Veterans for use in 100,000 craft kits sent to veterans across the country. The recycled leather from plane seats is upcycled into therapeutic craft kits.
• La-Z-Boy IncorporatedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver a two-year span, La-Z-Boy donated more than 400,000 pounds of recycled material (unused leather, cloth, and other materials), creating 47,894 therapy kits with a retail value of $1,538,647.00.
• Elks (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 20+ year partnership. Every year, Elks collect and donate thousands of leather hides through the Elks Veterans Leather Program. Leather is used for wheelchair gloves distributed at VA Adaptive Sports Events and to make therapeutic craft kits. Over 600,000 craft kits created from Elks leather with estimated value exceeding $15 million.
• Operation ShoeboxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2003, Operation Shoebox sends care packages to service members worldwide containing comfort items. Partnership with Heal Vets includes craft kits in these packages. Thousands of kits have been donated to Florida locations for package preparation by local volunteers.
• Vietnam War 50th Anniversary CommemorationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelp Heal Veterans is a proud Commemorative Partner of the Vietnam War Commemoration, recognizing the 50-year anniversary by thanking Vietnam veterans. Heal Vets saluted Vietnam veterans during the Veterans Concert Series.
• Joann FabricsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Help Heal Veterans mission through donations and promotional support.
• StarbucksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStarbucks Foundation Area 175 volunteers have supported Help Heal Veterans through volunteer efforts and fundraising.
• K Bar J LeatherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeather supplier partner supporting therapeutic craft kit production through material donations.
• Mitchell LeatherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeather supplier partner supporting therapeutic craft kit production through material donations.
• Premium Lift TruckminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Help Heal Veterans mission.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): Major congressionally-chartered veterans service organization with millions of members, providing veteran support programs, advocacy, and community services. Comparable as a national-scale veteran-services organization dependent on member dues and donations.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit serving post-9/11 veterans with programming spanning mental health, physical rehabilitation, and economic wellness. Directly comparable to Help Heal Veterans as a leading veteran-services nonprofit operating at national scale with free programs delivered to wounded and recovering veterans.
• Hire Heroes USA: Nonprofit providing free job-search and transition assistance to veterans and military spouses. Comparable as a donor-funded veteran-support nonprofit with measurable outcomes and corporate partnership-driven growth model.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Nonprofit organization providing free benefits assistance, transportation, and rehabilitation programs to disabled veterans. Comparable as a major donor-funded veteran-services organization with nationwide VA medical center reach and rehabilitation-focused programming.
• American Legion: Largest wartime veterans organization with thousands of posts delivering veteran support, rehabilitation programs including American Legion Baseball and Temporary Financial Assistance. Comparable as a national donor/membership-funded veteran-services nonprofit with embedded community presence.
• Operation Shoebox: Nonprofit that ships care packages to deployed active-duty military worldwide, including craft kits donated by Help Heal Veterans. Comparable as a donor-funded nonprofit providing tangible care items to active-duty military, with overlapping distribution infrastructure.
• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led nonprofit deploying veterans in disaster response and community service, providing purpose and connection for struggling veterans. Comparable in its mission to address veteran mental health and reintegration through structured program participation.
• Fisher House Foundation: Nonprofit providing free lodging for families of veterans and military patients receiving care at VA and military medical facilities. Comparable as a donor-funded veteran-support organization integrated into the VA medical facility ecosystem.
• Paralyzed Veterans of America: Nonprofit focused on veterans with spinal cord injuries and disabilities, delivering adaptive sports programs, advocacy, and rehabilitation services. Comparable in its donor-funded model serving veterans with severe physical injuries through rehabilitation-focused programs delivered at VA facilities.
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): Post-9/11 veteran advocacy and support organization providing programs in mental health, education, employment, and community. Comparable as a modern donor-funded veteran-services nonprofit focused on the invisible wounds of war among younger veterans.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HHVets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/hhv123
• Facebookfacebook.com/HelpHealVeterans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healvets
• Instagraminstagram.com/healvets
• TikToktiktok.com/@healvets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Help Heal Veterans